I hate to rain on everyone’s parade here, but I cannot equate Airstream with quality. We purchased a 2019 Flying Cloud 28RBT new. We owned it for 14 months. It was, by far, the worst travel trailer we ever owned. Incomplete inner wall construction resulted in a 3” sheet metal screw being substituted for a rivet and left exposed inside a storage area under one of the beds. Electrical wiring on top of the furnace started to melt at first use. All of the door hinges, including main entry door, were continuously becoming loose. Buy toothpicks and super glue to repair hinge screws into the wood, as I don’t believe the factory ever drills a pilot hole for these screws, as that would take too much time. Twin beds which weren’t level caused us to end up on the floor many nights. Windows that were difficult to open and too many failures to list. I made a 56 page diary documenting all of my problems and Airstreams response. The factory wants you to bring the trailers back to Jackson Center, Ohio for repairs. You will wait 3-6 months for an appointment. Does that give you an idea about the “quality” that goes into these trailers? The final straw was when the factory refused to repair two small holes in the outer skin caused by improperly mounted stone guards. We spent two weeks in Melbourne, Florida at an Airstream park where we listened to dozens of owners of new units complain about quality issues, so I learned my problems weren’t isolated. When we sold the unit we lost $14,000. $1,000 a month depreciation. When you buy one of these “Iconic” trailers, understand that they are built by Thor, the largest RV manufacturer in the world, using the same materials as any other trailer and with the same emphasis on profit above all else. Airstream quality is a myth and from my experience, they are simply not worth the money.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. We really appreciate you taking the time to share it and we don’t consider it “rain”… just honest real world experience. Sounds like a really unfortunate issue all around. We recently heard about a few other people with similar experiences on brand new Airstreams and we touched on that in our last video. We’ve used our 2015 trailer a lot and have been overall really happy with the product. Obviously a lot of maintenance goes into any travel trailer, but your issues sound like they go far beyond “regular maintenance”. We hope you found a better fit elsewhere. Happy trails!
Amazing! Well we hope we can give you a few tips and tricks before you hit it full-time! Let us know if you have any questions at all, we are here to help! Welcome to the family 👏🏻
Well, Im a GenXer and want to live in an Airstream fulltime. I travel the US as a contract Medical Traveler working 13 to 26 week contracts. I hate doing Airbnb and hotels which is why I am going to buy an Airstream. I want the Flying Cloud 23ft full bed.
Sounds like you have it figured out JT! We have loved the simplicity of the lifestyle. Happy trails out there if the Airstream route is the right one for you. Thanks for the comment and for watching!
Modern models are not very good quality in my opinion. We have a 2020 19cb Caravel and the fit and Finnish is horrible. I had to fix several minor defects like the shower brackets being mounted wrong to slight Leaks in some of the pluming. Found sever wiring issue where the wires were scraped with not insulation, Had to repair them. The nearest service center was too far away to make these warrantee repairs.
Thanks for the comment and the perspective Jeff. That’s really unfortunate. Leaks are a big deal… so are exposed wires. Replacing pex piping in small places is also a nightmare (speaking from experience). Hopefully it’s smoother sailing from here on for you and the Caravel! ✊
Love your videos, the RU-vid algorithm connected us, lol. We have a 2019 22FB Bambi Sport. Like you guys, we had never owned an RV nor had family members that were RV owners. Total nubes. . . Our airstream has taken us from coast to coast and into Canada. As a family we’ve had experiences that we never would’ve had otherwise. Three years into this experience, I agree with your assessment, they are very resilient but given all of the bumps/vibration, etc. . . some maintenance is required. A fair amount of mechanical, electrical acumen, general physical fitness along with a healthy dose of common sense (and forgiveness of self when mistakes happen. . . ) is required to manage and preserve this amazing rolling sanctuary.
Thanks for reaching out friends. Cheers to the RU-vid algorithm! Sounds like we have traveled many of the same roads… minus the Canada part…which we plan to do in a few years so please let us pick your brains when that day comes. 😎 Here’s to keeping these “rolling sanctuary’s” going along with the good times! Thanks for watching and leaving such a thoughtful comment!
We also did a ton a research (including your channel) before we made our decision to get our FC23FB. This is our third camper and there is night and day difference in the quality of the product. We bought new this year because the used market was only about 20% of a difference to the new, at least here in South Carolina.
Bought a barely used 2022 23FB Twin Globetrotter. The tinted glass going into the bathroom was scratched up. Contacted Airstream support, they sent me a replacement glass piece, the frame and everything. Super pleased with Airstream Customer support, it was an awesome experience.
Agree! Airstreams are not for everyone…. They’re more of a lifestyle! We’re on our 2nd vintage airstream and plan on restoring at least 1 more (contagious). My wife and I love your channel, keep up the great content! Merry Christmas
Hey RW, love that you guys are into restoring the vintage trailers! We hope to dip our toes into that at some point in the future, we will be picking your brains a bit about it I'm sure! Thanks so much for the love, Merry Christmas to you all and a joyous New Year!
Used Basecamp 16X is more expensive than new a 2023 brand new after partial financing and insurance escalation for used! They hold value big time just like my VW Winnebago Eurovan Camper which sold for what I bought if for 210k thousand miles ago lol
Like we said the used market is really solid right now! Sounds like you got a lot of good use out of your Eurovan! I bet that thing was sweet! Thanks for weighing in G S 😎
I would own an older one but not a new one. The new ones are not built as well now. Have friends with new ones and they always seem to have something going wrong with them.
We definitely hear where you are coming from. We’ve toured several classic airstreams that were hulks. The addition of more technology in recent years means more moving parts… and theoretically more things that can break. That’s probably why Sam’s parents have a 1956 Chevy Truck that still runs like a charm. :) It’s all about perspective and comparing a product to competitors on the market. When you do, we still think they hold their own pretty well. Thanks for watching and sharing your perspective!
Agree with your assessment. We have a 2018 30' Flying Cloud and have loved it! We highly recommend Airstream and we also look to passing ours down to our children/grandchildren!
Stay away from the Tampa dealership wow it’s not Rainbows and unicorns. You get your two hour inspection before signing walk away. Then negotiate your price because of the terrible craftsmanship.
Really sorry to hear you had a negative experience Richard. Hopefully if you had any major issues Airstream honored their warranty. Thanks for sharing your perspective, we really appreciate it! ✊
Vintage Airstreams are tanks. The newer ones are top of the line but not the same quality. If you bought in the last 2 years you over paid and bought an inferior product compared to the previous 5 years. Ask any rv tech their opinion of the pandemic era builds and most will tell you to avoid at all costs. You have to remember that regardless of the manufacturer there are hundreds of components that are from all over the world and quality has taken a nose dive. Before you buy any RV take a ride to their dealer service center and talk with the customers who are dropping off their units for service.
With the amount of similar comments we received since releasing this video last year, we may need to revisit this topic! Great advice about getting other perspectives before buying. Most of our third party accessories have been the first parts to break on our Airstream and ours was pre pandemic. Thanks for the comment and happy trails John!
Love your videos! Wife and I are thinking about buying an AS in the next few years, but I have been seeing many “quality” issues from many customers. Has Thor always built AS’s?
We've heard of some issues as of recent however, we haven't had any issues with ours and we feel it has been a quality investment! Going on 5 years with little issues!
You have it right! Airstream is the best and I bought a used one in great shape. Value holds up and it is well built with the right amenities. Great video and enjoy your trailer!
I think we're leaning towards an airstream but tell me about leaks and dents from things like hail. Do airstream rivets leak a lot? Do you worry about serious weather? I'm a molded fiberglass gal so I really know nothing about these aluminum beauties!
We have had two rivets pop in the last 3 years but we also take “The Burrito” on lots of bumpy gravel roads. Haven’t had any issues with leaking rivets. We know the risks of a big hail storm but we don’t lose any sleep over it because, “that’s what insurance is for”. 😂 Definitely tour some different brands and models before you buy… but overall we are super happy with our Airstream! Happy trails!
In a word, no. They have the same small ankle biter problems as other trailers, dont stand up to severe weather, have no external storage and little internal storage, not well insulated. I will say they tow nicely if you couple it to a proper tow vehicle with a quality hitch. They are not worth the money.
Thanks for the perspective John! We really do like listening to where others stand. Also, we may have to steal your “ankle biter problems” line because we thought that was amazing. Keep on keeping on. L&S ✊
Nice video. We love the Airstream community as well as the points you brought up. If you are ever coming through Gunnison Colorado, stop at our house and plug in for a few days. Cheers
Hey Alan! Thanks so much for reaching out and for the kind words! We are actually both from Fort Collins and have been to Gunnison a time or two before, you all live in a fun outdoor playground! We will definitely pop by and plug in for a few days on any future trips home! Cheers friends!
Great content guys! I'm getting those magnet spice holders, thanks for the idea. I'm so tired of rummaging through my bin to find the spice I'm looking for. I've been on the road for almost two months now and love this Airstream lifestyle.
Katie, I always tell people the spice racks are my favorite RV purchase we have made, and I still stand by that two years later! Happy you found us, hang out for more good content! Happy trails 🚐
We actually had a storm blow through tonight but all is well! Definitely a consideration though Steve. We carry good insurance and will hopefully avoid the big pieces in the future!
Just bought an Airstream Bambi 22FB with solar package. Delivery expected by October 2022. We're looking forward to spending a lot of time on the road after I make it thoroughly "boondock" worthy.
Of course, the real answer is “sure” or “yeah, sort of” or “maybe, but it depends” or maybe you already covered that. But for those of us that already have an International 27FBQ the answer is clearly “Absolutely!” But thanks for the insight.
A prosperous and blessed New Year to you Greg! Thanks for hanging with us from the very beginning! Make sure to say hello if we cross paths. Don’t be shy! 😎
2019 FC 25FBQ - Best purchase ever. The quality has shown through at every turn. We did upgrades as soon as we got it - wet batteries replaced with LI - 1000W inverter upgraded to 3K - we have had issues but they are not related to the workmanship…2 rivets, one of the plastic travel pins for the kitchen exhaust, the foam “gasket” around the bathroom and shower fan and the stove fan itself. These are all items that are installed by AS, the failure is not a reflection of craftsmanship, these items were installed correctly. Our only issue was our door, it did not close properly (2 clicks). The door was fixed on our return first time service visit (our AS was a floor model and had been on the showroom for a while when we got it in July 2020) - lots of door opening and closing - its like the old SNL skit - point counter point. We’ve really enjoyed our travels in our AS and the fun videos from Lauren and Sam #alittlebitunhitched
Thanks for sharing your experience and for putting so much thought into it as always Dennis! We definitely have been very happy with our purchase as well. How has your inverter upgrade worked out for you? Would you do it again? Thanks for being #alittlebitunhitched with us! 😂
@@ALittleBitUnhitched Hi! Overall the electrical upgrades we did have been good. We probably should have added more solar panels, 300W isn't enough to keep the batteries topped off. Really enjoy your content. Cheers, Dennis
Love the name! We definitely love ours too and are glad we went the Airstream route! Definitely important to realize what works best for you and your specific situation. Do you all live in it full-time??
